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KDA
The art of restraint is often overlooked by bands and music-makers in these over-sharing social media days. But as it turns out, holding a little back can do more for an artist’s standing than Instagramming pictures of their breakfast.
So it is for producer KDA, a new house player who has managed to refrain from divulging his identity, instead letting his well-heeled electronic beats do all the talking. He spent the last 12 months making a noise in the 4x4 house-loving slipstream of UK heavyweights Disclosure, Duke Dumont and Rudimental before unveiling debut release, Turn the Music Louder (Rumble) last summer. Featuring the vocal skills of Tinie Tempah and Katy B, the record debuted as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World and BBC Radio 1’s Track of the Day before bumping its way straight to top of the UK charts.
Remixes from house gangster DJ Sneak, Toddla T and the legendary Armand Van Helden all helped the tune become a club anthem, making serious dents in nocturnal hotspots from here to Ibiza as well as the charts.
KDA’s huge success may seem like it’s landed out of nowhere but it’s the result of some slow burning graft on the producer’s part. Having bagged a coveted slot on London’s Rinse FM early last year, remixes for everyone from Vaults and CHVRCHES to Katy B and BBC Sound Of shortlisted artist Frances have all helped set out his stall. His gig credentials are also stacking up after debuting alongside Birmingham’s Hannah Wants and opening the year at Fatboy Slim’s Smile High Club on New Year’s Day at London rave cave Tobacco Dock.
It means that a huge amount of expectation lies at his feet as he gears up to drop a debut album at some point in 2016. Citing influences ranging from Jill Scott to psych-rockers Tame Impala as well an obvious passion for night time heaters, fans and critics alike should expect the unexpected when it’s eventually unveiled…
soundcloud.com/kda-music
The art of restraint is often overlooked by bands and music-makers in these over-sharing social media days. But as it turns out, holding a little back can do more for an artist’s standing than Instagramming pictures of their breakfast.
So it is for producer KDA, a new house player who has managed to refrain from divulging his identity, instead letting his well-heeled electronic beats do all the talking. He spent the last 12 months making a noise in the 4x4 house-loving slipstream of UK heavyweights Disclosure, Duke Dumont and Rudimental before unveiling debut release, Turn the Music Louder (Rumble) last summer. Featuring the vocal skills of Tinie Tempah and Katy B, the record debuted as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World and BBC Radio 1’s Track of the Day before bumping its way straight to top of the UK charts.
Remixes from house gangster DJ Sneak, Toddla T and the legendary Armand Van Helden all helped the tune become a club anthem, making serious dents in nocturnal hotspots from here to Ibiza as well as the charts.
KDA’s huge success may seem like it’s landed out of nowhere but it’s the result of some slow burning graft on the producer’s part. Having bagged a coveted slot on London’s Rinse FM early last year, remixes for everyone from Vaults and CHVRCHES to Katy B and BBC Sound Of shortlisted artist Frances have all helped set out his stall. His gig credentials are also stacking up after debuting alongside Birmingham’s Hannah Wants and opening the year at Fatboy Slim’s Smile High Club on New Year’s Day at London rave cave Tobacco Dock.
It means that a huge amount of expectation lies at his feet as he gears up to drop a debut album at some point in 2016. Citing influences ranging from Jill Scott to psych-rockers Tame Impala as well an obvious passion for night time heaters, fans and critics alike should expect the unexpected when it’s eventually unveiled…
soundcloud.com/kda-music
Maya Youssef
Describing herself as a Syrian artist ‘who plays a magic zither called a kanun and an activist who uses music to make a difference in the world’, it’s clear that Maya Youssef is more than your standard composer.
Originally hailing from a family of artists, Maya is renowned as one of the foremost players of the kanun. Back in 2012 Arts Council England recognised her as an Exceptional Talent, enabling her to move to London to develop her musical career.
After completing her Masters in ethnomusicology from SOAS, University of London, Maya is now researching Music Healing for Syrian Refugee Children while also teaching the kanun and directing the SOAS Middle Eastern Ensemble.
Maya’s reputation as a kanun expert means she has been a regular commentator in the media and a performer at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. She is currently working on a debut album, continuing many of the musical traditions she has learned from her homeland.
mayayoussef.com
Describing herself as a Syrian artist ‘who plays a magic zither called a kanun and an activist who uses music to make a difference in the world’, it’s clear that Maya Youssef is more than your standard composer.
Originally hailing from a family of artists, Maya is renowned as one of the foremost players of the kanun. Back in 2012 Arts Council England recognised her as an Exceptional Talent, enabling her to move to London to develop her musical career.
After completing her Masters in ethnomusicology from SOAS, University of London, Maya is now researching Music Healing for Syrian Refugee Children while also teaching the kanun and directing the SOAS Middle Eastern Ensemble.
Maya’s reputation as a kanun expert means she has been a regular commentator in the media and a performer at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. She is currently working on a debut album, continuing many of the musical traditions she has learned from her homeland.
mayayoussef.com
Blonde Bunny
Tracing the musical dots from future prog to melodramatic pop, colourful four-piece Blonde Bunny are the latest fresh-faced guitar-wielders to stir up a buzz. If you’ve been lucky enough to get inside one of the band’s rammed gigs at London’s Shacklewell Arms or Moth Club over the last 12 months, you’ll be well aware of the group’s musical potency.
With a kaleidoscopically woozy sound, the bunnies cram in traces of everything from the classic psych of Pink Floyd to indie innovators Animal Collective into their music. They released characteristically eccentric debut single While We’re Sleeping on a limited edition cassette back in 2014 and have since been picking up a head of steam with more recent track Loreta showing off their tripped-out guitars and mesmerising vocals.
After 12 months spent packing out London’s smaller sweat pits and supporting fellow dreamers Telegram and The Wytches, they’re now gearing up to take their 21st century psychedelia to the masses.
blondebunny.co.uk
Tracing the musical dots from future prog to melodramatic pop, colourful four-piece Blonde Bunny are the latest fresh-faced guitar-wielders to stir up a buzz. If you’ve been lucky enough to get inside one of the band’s rammed gigs at London’s Shacklewell Arms or Moth Club over the last 12 months, you’ll be well aware of the group’s musical potency.
With a kaleidoscopically woozy sound, the bunnies cram in traces of everything from the classic psych of Pink Floyd to indie innovators Animal Collective into their music. They released characteristically eccentric debut single While We’re Sleeping on a limited edition cassette back in 2014 and have since been picking up a head of steam with more recent track Loreta showing off their tripped-out guitars and mesmerising vocals.
After 12 months spent packing out London’s smaller sweat pits and supporting fellow dreamers Telegram and The Wytches, they’re now gearing up to take their 21st century psychedelia to the masses.
blondebunny.co.uk
Nathan Grisdale
20 year old singer songwriter Nathan Grisdale is from Blackburn, a new pop artist who has harnessed the power of social media to leverage him and his music to the next level.
After almost reaching semi-professionalism as a footballer, Nathan decided to hand over his football boots in exchange for a microphone and a songbook just over two years ago. He began by recording a series of home videos of him and his music, sharing the performances on Facebook and Twitter and developing an online fanbase.
After encouragement from these new listeners, Nathan started penning his own music including Lone Solider, a song for a former soldier who contacted him with stories of his time in the military. Since then, this new talent has been picked up Boxx Records, who have helped him refine and shape his songwriting nous. Currently out on a sold out tour of the UK, it seems that Nathan’s march to the top is unstoppable…
nathangrisdale.com
20 year old singer songwriter Nathan Grisdale is from Blackburn, a new pop artist who has harnessed the power of social media to leverage him and his music to the next level.
After almost reaching semi-professionalism as a footballer, Nathan decided to hand over his football boots in exchange for a microphone and a songbook just over two years ago. He began by recording a series of home videos of him and his music, sharing the performances on Facebook and Twitter and developing an online fanbase.
After encouragement from these new listeners, Nathan started penning his own music including Lone Solider, a song for a former soldier who contacted him with stories of his time in the military. Since then, this new talent has been picked up Boxx Records, who have helped him refine and shape his songwriting nous. Currently out on a sold out tour of the UK, it seems that Nathan’s march to the top is unstoppable…
nathangrisdale.com
